[NLA] Truespell & other Phonetic devices

[Gina Cooke]

My statement is that synthetic phonetic devices are not suffucient to teach reading and spelling -- elements of written language. Using them to teach pronunciation to non-disabled ESL learners is another issue. Scientific research has shown that different parts of the brain are involved in written language than in oral language, and acquiring each is a different process.

Tom Zurinskas's claim was that "Kids learn reading twice as fast with a pronunciation guide spelling as an initial teaching aid." This is what I was addressing -- reading instruction, not pronunciation or conversation. 

Regards,
Gina Cooke
Literacy Program Consultant
The Discovery Alliance
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: LROWL6996 at aol.com 
  To: nla at lists.literacytent.org 
  Sent: Friday, January 04, 2002 12:27 PM
  Subject: Re: [NLA] Truespell & other Phonetic devices


  In a message dated 1/4/2002 11:32:03 AM Central Standard Time, discoverbooks at hotmail.com writes: 

    I submit that synthetic phonetic devices such as Truespel, Shavian, etc., are 
    devastatingly confusing and counter-productive for dyslexic or other 
    language-disabled individuals or for second language learners. 


  I disagree with the above statement.  I find phonetic spelling is the best method for teaching pronunciation to my students of ESL.  Yes we teach grammar, spelling, etc., but the foriegn born must learn to pronounce to be understood by American born in our society. 

  Linda Rowland, Education Director 
  The International Center 
  W.K.R.M.A.A., Inc. 
  806 Kenton Street 
  Bowling Green, KY 42101 
  phone: 270-781-8336 
  fax:     270-781-8136 
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